♪ MUSIC REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

HELLO, I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F. I AM SO HAPPY TO SAY OUR GUEST TODAY IS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HOWIE MORALES, DEMOCRAT FROM SILVER CITY.

HOW ARE YOU, WELCOME.

>>HOWIE: THANK YOU, I'M DOING WELL.

ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A GUEST OF YOURS HERE IN SANTA FE.

IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, AND THIS MAY BE ONE OF MY LAST INTERVIEWS THAT I HAVE WITH YOU, SO I'M GOING TO CHERISH THE WHOLE TIME.

>>LORENE: OH, GOOD, GOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE LAST INTERVIEWS.

YOU'RE OUR 30TH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN NEW MEXICO HISTORY AND YOU WERE IN THE SENATE FOR 11 YEARS, WHICH MADE IT GREAT BECAUSE ONE OF YOUR JOBS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS TO PRESIDE OVER THE SENATE, WHICH YOU DID REALLY, REALLY WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT TOO.

ANYWAY, YOU REPRESENT THE 28TH DISTRICT, YOU'VE GOT A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREES FROM WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY AND A PHD FROM NMSU, CONGRATULATIONS.

>>HOWIE: THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL TIME OF SERVICE HERE IN SANTA FE.

ELEVEN WONDERFUL YEARS SERVING IN THE SENATE AND THEN BONUS YEARS TO BE THERE THE FOLLOWING EIGHT YEARS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>>LORENE: I KNOW, I KNOW.

YOU'VE BEEN A TEACHER AND A COACH FOR YEARS AT SILVER AND COBRE HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU WERE INDICTED IN 2017 TO THE NEW MEXICO STATE HALL OF FAME FOR HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL.

>>HOWIE: I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME FOR BASEBALL, I WAS A BASEBALL COACH.

>>LORENE: FOR BASEBALL, RIGHT.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, AND SO GOOD MEMORIES OF COACHING THOSE WONDERFUL KIDS IN SOUTHWEST PART OF THE STATE.

>>LORENE: WELL, I THINK, TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOUR COACHING EXTENDED INTO YOUR JOB, ONE OF YOUR JOBS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS TO PRESIDE OVER THE SENATE, WHICH, IN THIS TOXIC PARTISAN TIME NATIONALLY, COULD BE VERY TENSE AND CONFRONTATIONAL, INEFFICIENT, AND SOMETIMES MEAN.

BUT, THERE WAS JUST, I HAVE TO SAY THE GRACE WITH WHICH YOU HANDLED YOUR JOB, PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE WAS REALLY WONDERFUL AND AT THE END, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE LAST SESSION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE IN THERE, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE YOUR LAST SESSION TO PRESIDE OVER, ALTHOUGH YOU WILL SERVE THE REST OF THE WHOLE YEAR AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

BUT ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE LAST DAY, THE SENATORS ALL SPOKE AND REALLY MADE A POWERFUL TRIBUTE TO YOU, I FOUND IT DEEPLY MOVING.

YOUR FAMILY WAS THERE, AND EVERY SENATOR WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU WERE RECEPTIVE AND HOW YOU WERE FAIR AND HOW YOU JUST HAD AN ATMOSPHERE, AN AMBIANCE OF RESPECT, AND YOU'D JUST STAND AT WORK LIKE CLOCKWORK WAS REALLY GREAT.

STANDING UP AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK EXTRA TIME WITH NEW LAWMAKERS, YOU MADE THEM FEEL PART OF THE TEAM AND NOT JUST LIKE, WHO AM I, WHAT AM I DOING HERE, YOU WELCOMED THEM AND THEN THE OLDER LAWMAKERS YOU LET THEM SPEAK AND A LOT OF THEM HAD REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS TO TEACH THE YOUNGER ONES AND YOU FACILITATED THAT.

SO I ENJOYED WATCHING IT AND THEN TO HEAR MOST OF THEM HAD SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO SAY AND TO THANK YOU.

SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU, FIRST OF ALL, TO HEAR ALL THAT WITH YOUR FAMILY THERE?

>>HOWIE: COMING INTO THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I KNEW THAT EVERY DAY I WAS ONE DAY CLOSER TO MAYBE NOT PRESIDING OVER THE STATE SENATE.

THE STATE SENATE HAS BECOME MY HOME, HAVING SERVED THERE BEFORE AS I MENTIONED, 11 YEARS, THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IT'S REALLY BECOME PART OF MY FAMILY AND WHAT WE DO.

THAT WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE SESSION ENDED.

I TURNED, AND I SAW MY FAMILY WALKING IN, I SAW MY KIDS DRESSED UP, AND I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT, THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME TIME THAT WAS DEDICATED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS OF THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE.

IT GOES BACK TO BEING AN EDUCATOR, AND THE WORK AS AN EDUCATOR HOW IMPORTANT THAT THAT IS TO COMMUNICATE, TO COLLABORATE, FINDING WAYS TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND, AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE ROLE THAT I TOOK AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

VERY RARELY DID I HAVE TO COME DOWN ON ANY SENATORS TO CORRECT THEM, IF I DID, I WOULD GET ON THE PHONE AND I WOULD JUST HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION, NOT MAKE IT OVER THE MICROPHONE WHERE I WOULD EMBARRASS ANYBODY AND I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL AND HELPED.

PART OF MY TRAINING AS A COACH IS TO RECOGNIZE HOW TO GET TO THE MOST OF HUMAN OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE, AND THOSE SENATORS, WHETHER IT WAS DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, THAT'S SOMETHING I'M ALWAYS GOING TO REMEMBER.

THE KIND WORDS THEY SHARED, BUT EVEN MORE SO THE STORIES THAT THEY SHARED, WE'RE NOT EVEN REMEMBERING SOME OF THE STORIES THEY SHARED OF THE IMPACT THAT WE HAD WORKING TOGETHER.

THAT WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL, SO WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO END MY LAST SESSION.

>>LORENE: WELL, YOU'VE HAD SO MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT TO GO OUT AT THE PEAK, YOU KNOW, AND TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE, IMMEDIATELY THE SENATORS THEMSELVES ALL HAD SOMETHING WONDERFUL AND THEY WERE VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU.

ALL OF YOUR YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AS AN EDUCATOR AND AS A COACH, SO THANK YOU.

>>HOWIE: THANK YOU.

I'M STILL A COACH, I STILL COACH MY KID'S TEAMS, STAY ACTIVE WITH THAT AND LOVE TO BE PART OF ANYTHING THAT DEALS WITH EDUCATION AND THAT'S A PART OF IT AS WELL.

SO THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS WE CAME IN, IT WAS ALSO A SPECIAL SESSION, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOUR LAST SESSION IS CONSIDERED TO BE A LAME DUCK SESSION, IT WAS FAR FROM THAT.

WE GOT TO WORK, THE GOVERNOR SET THE TONE THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T TAKE A VICTORY LAP.

WE HAD MORE WORK TO DO AND AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION, WE DID JUST THAT.

>>LORENE: AND SHE HAD SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT SHE REALLY WANTED PASSED AND MOST OF THEM DID, DIDN'T THEY?

>>HOWIE: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, WE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR, THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID DO IN OUR LAST YEAR HAVE BEEN GROUNDBREAKING, NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CHILDCARE BILL, FREE CHILDCARE.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE.

I'VE TRAVELED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SHARED HOW NEW MEXICO WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING TO THIS MAGNITUDE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR SHOWED BOLD LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

ALL OF OUR EDUCATION SECRETARIES, YOU KNOW, OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD, K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION SECRETARIES, WERE ALL PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THE LEGISLATURE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WE HAD A LOT OF DEBATE, BUT GETTING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO FREE CHILDCARE IS GROUNDBREAKING BECAUSE THAT'S OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES THAT CAN GO OUT INTO THE WORKFORCE, THAT CAN GO OUT AND PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE AND OTHER STATES ARE CONSTANTLY ASKING, HOW DID YOU DO IT.

>>LORENE: WERE WE THE FIRST, WAS NEW MEXICO THE FIRST?

>>HOWIE: WE WERE THE FIRST TO DO IT, AND OTHER STATES ARE TRYING TO DO IT AND NOT ABLE TO DO IT AT THE POINT AND THE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO COME IN WITH THE VISION.

WHEN THE EARLY LEARNING DEPARTMENT CAME IN IN 2019, I WAS PROUD TO HAVE CARRIED THAT LEGISLATION AS A STATE SENATOR.

I DIDN'T GET VERY FAR AS A STATE SENATOR WITH THAT LEGISLATION, BUT WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE AND GAVE HER STATE-OF-THE -STATE ADDRESS AND INCLUDED OUR EARLY LEARNING DEPARTMENT, I KNEW THAT THINGS WERE GOING TO CHANGE, AND IT HAS.

WISE INVESTMENTS THAT WERE DONE, WE DID THIS WITHOUT INCREASING ANY TAXES TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, BLESS JOHN ARTHUR SMITH.

>>LORENE: YES.

>>HOWIE: HE'S NO LONGER WITH US, BUT HIS VISION THAT HE HAD ALONG WITH REP DOREEN GALLEGOS, WHO ESTABLISHED AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TRUST FUND STARTING AT $300 MILLION.

THAT NOW SITS AT $11 BILLION, THAT IS A HUGE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FUND THIS AND TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AND BEING A LEADER ACROSS THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>>LORENE: DID IT START WITH OIL AND GAS MONEY AND THEN WAS WISELY INVESTED AND TURNED INTO THIS HUGE FUND.

>>HOWIE: ABSOLUTELY, AND WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN THE STATE.

I CAN REMEMBER BEING IN THE STATE SENATE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT YEARS AGO, WHERE WE HAD ZERO PERCENT RESERVE, WHERE WE WERE STRUGGLING, CUTTING, CLAWING BACK PROJECTS, IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME.

TODAY WE SIT AT NEARLY 30% RESERVES BECAUSE OF OIL AND GAS SURPLUS AND OTHER SMART ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, VENTURES THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY AND THIS IS WHERE, AS A STATE, WE'RE SITTING PRETTY HEALTHY AND EVEN TO WITHSTAND SOME OF THE FEDERAL CHANGES AND SURPRISES THAT THEY MAY THROW AT US, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WITHSTAND THAT BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL STRENGTH THAT WE'VE SHOWN IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: SO THEY'VE ALWAYS, THE OTHER STATES AND OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF US AS A POOR STATE, AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE VERY WELL-FUNDED, VERY STABLE, A LOT OF RESERVES, AND SO THEY CAN THINK WHAT THEY WANT, WE'RE DOING WELL.

>>HOWIE: AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT THAT YOU MAKE BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOING WELL AS A STATE GOVERNMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO PAY OUR EDUCATORS TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE REGION, SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO ME BECAUSE I COME FROM THAT PROFESSION, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I TOOK CARE OF OUR COLLEAGUES.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE SURE OUR STATE POLICE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND DOING IT IN A WAY THAT WE KNOW THAT THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE IS MEANINGFUL, AS WELL AS OUR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE TEACHERS.

IT STARTED OUT WHEN YOU WERE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THAT WE HAD, WHEN WAS IT WE WERE THE WORST IN THE REGION FOR PAYING OUR TEACHERS AND NOW WE ARE THE HIGHEST IN THE REGION.

AND LIKE YOU SAY, IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE VERY HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, WE'VE JUST PUT SO MUCH INTO EDUCATION AND I KNOW THAT YOU WERE A FORCE BEHIND THAT, SO THANK YOU.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND, YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL BECAUSE WE HAVE INVESTED OVER A BILLION DOLLARS WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN HEAR HOW NEW MEXICO RANKS POORLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FAILING, THAT'S JUST NOT THE REALITY OF IT.

WE HAVE SO MANY GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

OUR EDUCATORS ARE SHOWING UP EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE THEY EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

ONE TEST SCORE DOES NOT DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN LITERACY, CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH AS WE'VE SEEN WITH GRADUATION RATES, AND THEN CONTINUE TO SEE THE WHOLE CRADLE TO CAREER VISION THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD, WHERE WE STARTED WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND WE HAVE OUR STUDENTS GO ON AND NOW WITH THE LOTTERY AND OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS FULLY FUNDED, IT TIES RIGHT INTO HIGHER EDUCATION.

>>LORENE: ARE WE THE ONLY STATE THAT OFFERS TO NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS FREE COLLEGE TUITION?

>>HOWIE: I BELIEVE WE'RE THE ONLY STATE THAT DOES IT AT 100%.

>>LORENE: A HUNDRED PERCENT.

YES, OH GOODNESS.

>>HOWIE: AND THAT WAS DONE FROM WISE INVESTMENTS TOO.

WE HAVE A HIGHER EDUCATION TRUST FUND AS WELL, WITH THE CHAMPIONING OF SECRETARY RODRIGUEZ, WE NOW HAVE THAT AT A BILLION DOLLARS.

WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT MAKES SURE THAT LONG AFTER THE GOVERNOR AND MYSELF ARE GONE, NOT IN THESE ROLES ANYMORE, THERE'S A TRUST FUND THAT'S GOING TO KEEP THE PROMISE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE FUNDED FOR OUR NEW MEXICO GRADUATES.

>>LORENE: SO WAS JOHN ARTHUR SMITH, THE LATE, GREAT JOHN ARTHUR SMITH, FROM YOUR PART OF THE STATE, WAS HE A PROPONENT OF ALL THESE TRUST FUNDS, ALL THESE IMPORTANT ENTITIES HAVE A CUSHION OF MONEY THAT THEY CAN USE, EVEN THE INTEREST FROM, TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, SO I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IS THE VISION OF HAVING IT, OKAY WE NOW HAVE A SURPLUS WHERE OUR RESERVES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH, HAVING SAT ON THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE WHERE THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO SET UP SYSTEMS IN PLACE FOR A RAINY DAY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PERMANENT FUND, WHICH IS RAINY DAY FUND, AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO SEE THAT THE VOTERS AND THE CHAMPIONING OF SPEAKER JAVIER MARTINEZ, CHAMPIONING OF PEOPLE LIKE MICHAEL PADILLA, OTHERS WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE THAT CONTINUALLY PUSHED TO GET THAT LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND THROUGH, WE CREATED THE SAME CONCEPT WITH RAINY DAY FUNDS.

I GIVE CREDIT TO THE LATE LARRY LARGANAGA AS WELL.

>>LORENE: OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>>HOWIE: LARRY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE FIRST TRUST FUND OR THE FIRST FUND OF THIS SORT WITH THE ELDERLY AND MAKING SURE THAT WAS GOING TO BE DONE THROUGH OUR AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THE SAME CONCEPT AND UTILIZE, AND NEVER DO WE EXPECT THAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT WAS GOING TO BE SO HIGH, THE WAY WE SEE IT, BUT THAT JUST SHOWS THAT WE DO HAVE EXPERTS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO WHO HAD VISION AND WERE ABLE TO INVEST WISELY, SO NOW THAT WE ALL GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO, EVERY YEAR PEOPLE ARE SAYING, BUT IT'S A RAINY DAY NOW, AND IT'S NOT, THIS IS NOT A RAINY DAY AND I GIVE THANKS.

WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH HOWIE MORALES, WHO IS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

I'D LOVE TO ASK YOU KIND OF A BROADER QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR LEGACY WILL BE AFTER ALL OF YOUR, YOU'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR SO LONG, THANK YOU.

BUT HOW DO YOU VIEW YOUR LEGACY, WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE?

>>HOWIE: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT YOU ALWAYS WORK FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

I COULDN'T NEARLY HAVE HAD THE SUCCESS THAT I'VE HAD AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR AND HAVING THE RELATIONSHIP THAT I'VE HAD WITH HER AND OUR ENTIRE CABINET AND ALL OF OUR GOVERNOR'S STAFF, BUT ALSO MY OWN STAFF.

I'M EXTREMELY PROUD THAT THE STAFF THAT I STARTED WITH 2019 IS THE SAME STAFF THAT I HAVE TODAY, SO THEY'VE BEEN THERE WITH ME AND HELPED ME TO HAVE THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD.

SO I HOPE THAT MY LEGACY WILL BE ONCE MY TIME IS DONE THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU WERE ALWAYS ABLE TO COME TO ME I WAS ACCESSIBLE, I WAS AVAILABLE AND I WAS RESPECTFUL EVEN AT TIMES WHEN WE MAY HAVE DISAGREEMENTS.

I THINK THAT WAS SHOWN DURING THE TESTIMONIES THAT SENATORS GAVE AS THEY DID MY FAREWELL, I THINK THAT THAT WAS DEMONSTRATED IS THAT THE RESPECT IS THERE.

YOU CAN HAVE DISAGREEMENTS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT TURN INTO DISAGREEMENTS WHERE THEY'RE DISRESPECTFUL AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

SO BEING AVAILABLE, BEING ACCESSIBLE, BEING RESPECTFUL, I THINK ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU SORT OF PLAY THE ROLE AS ASSISTANT COACH AND YOU'RE SORT OF IN THE BACKGROUND DOING A LOT OF WORK THAT'S DONE, THAT NEVER BOTHERED ME BECAUSE I KNOW THE BIGGEST ROLE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE BIGGEST ROLE AS A LEGISLATOR, IS AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT A NEW MEXICO THAT'S GOING TO SHINE.

WE WANT A NEW MEXICO THAT'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND I WAS PROUD TO HAVE A HAND IN IT, WHETHER I WAS A COUNTY CLERK, WHETHER I WAS A COACH, TEACHER, A SENATOR, OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, TO HAVE A HAND IN IMPROVING THE STATE, LEAVING IT BETTER OFF THAN WHEN WE FOUND IT.

>>LORENE: YES AND YOU HAVE, THANK YOU.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER SMALLER ISSUES THAT I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT.

GUNS, GUNS IN THE SCHOOLS, YOU HAD AN ANNUAL SAFE SCHOOL SUMMIT BECAUSE, I MEAN, NOW SOME SCHOOLS ARE MAKING THE KIDS HAVE SEE-THROUGH BACKPACKS AND YOU KNOW, IT'S DISTURBING WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

HOW THEY COULD IMAGINE GOING AND SHOOTING UP THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR FRIENDS, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH GUNS IN SCHOOLS?

>>HOWIE: IT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN, I THINK ABOUT THIS EVERY DAY.

MY DAUGHTER'S A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, MY SON'S AN EIGHTH GRADER AND WHEN I DROP OFF AT SCHOOL IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, PLEASE PROTECT THEM, KEEP THEM SAFE.

I THINK, WITH ANXIETIES, WITH THE STRESSORS, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THREATS THAT ARE OFTEN OUT THERE, THAT WAS IMPORTANT, AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THAT I USE MY EXPERIENCES NOT ONLY AS A PARENT, BUT MY EXPERIENCES AS AN EDUCATOR TO BRING IN OVER 350 EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS ACROSS NEW MEXICO, TO CONVENE THEM TOGETHER FOR A SAFETY SCHOOL SUMMIT.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY CAME ABOUT FROM THE AZTEC SHOOTINGS.

AT THE TIME SUPERINTENDENT KURT CARPENTER, WHO BROUGHT THIS IDEA SAYING, IF WE CAN START GATHERING AND HAVING DISCUSSIONS AND BEST PRACTICES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SAFER STATE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHOOTERS AREN'T SHOWING UP ON OUR CAMPUSES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE DON'T HAVE, WE HAVEN'T HAD THOSE MASS SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN OTHER STATES.

THAT TELLS ME THAT EVEN WHEN A GUN SHOWS UP ON CAMPUS AND THEY'RE CONFISCATED, THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING, THAT WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO BE PROACTIVE, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE DISASTROUS SITUATIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER PARTS.

>>LORENE: SO YOU'RE SAYING EVEN THERE ARE GUNS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO CAMPUS AND HOW DO YOU KNOW, DO THE OTHER STUDENTS SAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET SHOT, JUST SAY A QUIET WORD AND THEN SOMEONE COMES IN AND THEY CONFISCATE THE WEAPON, AT LEAST WHILE THEY'RE AT SCHOOL, MAYBE GIVE IT BACK TO THE PARENTS.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS JUST THIS CASE, RECENTLY, THE FIRST TIME WHERE THE PARENT WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE AND WENT TO JAIL FOR GIVING HIS KID A RIFLE FOR CHRISTMAS, A KID WHO HAD SHOWN DEFINITE SIGNS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IN HIS DRAWINGS, INDICATING THAT HE MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, AND I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IS THE LEGISLATURE, THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, REP PAMELA HERNDON PASSING BENNY'S LAW, I THINK WAS INSTRUMENTAL BECAUSE IT STARTED PUTTING ACCOUNTABILITY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GUNS ARE PLACED SAFELY.

I COME FROM A HUGE HUNTING COMMUNITY, THE SPORTSMEN IN MY COMMUNITY, VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.

IT'S NOT THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE ABUSING THE SYSTEM, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANY LAPSES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, THAT WE HAVE THE TEETH AND OUR LAW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HOLD THOSE ACCOUNTABLE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, AND IT'S AN ISSUE THAT KEEPS COMING UP, AS YOU KNOW, PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE, IT KEEPS COMING UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS?

>>HOWIE: I BELIEVE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE SENATE, I THINK IT DIED IN THE STATE SENATE.

I DIDN'T PRESIDE OVER THAT PARTICULAR DEBATE AT THE TIME, I THINK THE GOVERNOR WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY, AND THEREFORE I WASN'T ABLE TO PRESIDE OVER THE STATE SENATE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT DID DIE IN, IF I WANT TO SAY IT DID DIE IN THE LEGISLATURE, I'M NOT SURE WHICH LOCATION.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

WHAT WERE YOUR FEELINGS, YOU KNOW, PRESIDING OVER THIS LAST 30 DAYS.

I KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE YOU WERE, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DO, JUST A MINUTE, I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT, YOU TRAVEL ALL OVER THE STATE.

SO YOU'RE ON THE GROUND AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN ALL THESE COMMUNITIES.

>>HOWIE: THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF IS THAT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN OUR STATE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE COMING FROM A SMALL COMMUNITY, SILVER CITY BEING 10,000 PEOPLE, COMING FROM A SMALL COMMUNITY, I DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO ALWAYS HAVE TO COME TO SANTA FE.

I WANTED TO TAKE SANTA FE TO OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND I'VE DONE THAT, WHETHER IT'S DEALING WITH THE CANNON AIR FORCE BASE ISSUES THERE IN CLOVIS OR WHETHER WE'RE DEALING WITH THE WILDFIRES IN MORA, NEW MEXICO OR WHEN WE HAD, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD LOST A STATE POLICEMAN, DARIAN JARRETT IN LORDSBURG.

ALL OVER THE STATE IS MY OFFICE AND RECOGNIZING THAT THE AMOUNT OF MILES THAT WE PUT IN TO LISTEN, TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTIONS, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL.

I KNOW THAT IT'S EXTREMELY TIRING AND IT'S DIFFICULT ON MY OWN FAMILY BECAUSE I AM GONE SO OFTEN, I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY, BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO LEARN ON THE GROUND WHAT THE NEEDS OF NEW MEXICANS ARE.

>>LORENE: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE ON THE GROUND.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T READ ABOUT IT, SOMEONE CAN'T TELL YOU ABOUT IT, YOU ARE THERE AND YOU FEEL WHAT'S GOING ON AND I NOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THOSE VISITS.

SO I WAS ASKING YOU WHAT WERE YOUR FEELINGS, KNOWING THAT THIS WAS YOUR LAST LEGISLATURE THAT YOU'D BE PRESIDING OVER.

YOU'RE NOT GOING AWAY, YOU'LL BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR UNTIL JANUARY, WHAT, 20-SOMETHING, WHEN WE HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR AND A NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

WHAT I LOVED IS THAT YOU AND OUR GOVERNOR, MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM, WE'RE THE ONLY HISPANIC PAIR IN THE COUNTRY AS GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THANK YOU.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

AGAIN, THE DIVERSITY, THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE HAD AND WORKED TOGETHER, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS LIKE THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MOST OF THE TIME, YOUR GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DON'T WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER, IN THIS STATE, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE.

YOU KNOW, IN THIS STATE, WE'RE A TEAM AND GRATEFUL FOR THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE.

THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, YOU ASKED ME HOW IT WAS SERVING IN MY LAST SESSION, EVERY DAY I WOULD COUNT DOWN THE DAY LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER DAY CLOSER TILL WHEN MY TIME IS UP, EVEN THOUGH I'M STILL WORKING ALL THE WAY TILL DECEMBER, IT STILL IS SOMETHING THAT LEAVES A HEAVINESS WITH ME BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS I LEAVE FAMILY MEMBERS.

>>LORENE: YEAH, WELL, MAYBE THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL SESSION AND THEY'LL ALL COME BACK.

>>HOWIE: YEAH, KIND OF COUNTING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, BUT THAT'S JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

SO, I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU YOUR FEELINGS AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO NEXT, PROFESSIONALLY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

YOU'RE AN EDUCATOR, YOU COULD BE A PRESIDENT OF A UNIVERSITY, YOU COULD BE A PROFESSOR, YOU COULD, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH YOU COULD DO AND I KNOW YOU'LL BE COACHING WHATEVER YOU DO, WHAT'S YOUR NEXT STEP?

>>HOWIE: YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO DEFINED PLAN AT THIS POINT.

WE STILL HAVE WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO ALL THE WAY TO THE END.

THE ONE THING I CAN SAY, I WILL STAY IN NEW MEXICO.

NEW MEXICO IS MY HOME, I DIDN'T SPEND ALL THESE YEARS TO INVEST AND TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS PROUD OF NEW MEXICO THAT WE CAN BE AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL SEE HOW THINGS DEVELOP.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION I'LL GO IN, I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS MANY OPPORTUNITIES, MANY OFFERS.

I THINK I BRING A SKILL SET THAT IS VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL TO WHATEVER AREA THAT I MAY WORK AT, BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST TAKING A DEEP BREATH AND I'M ENJOYING AND CHERISHING THIS TIME IN MY FINAL MONTHS AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>>LORENE: YES, AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO DO?

>>HOWIE: I DON'T, WE DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHATEVER SHE DOES, SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE EFFECTIVE.

>>LORENE: YEAH, SHE'S GOT SO MUCH TO OFFER.

I WAS THINKING MAYBE SHE WOULD WORK NATIONALLY, SHE COULD DO VERY WELL NATIONALLY.

>>HOWIE: I AGREE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE LIFE AND MY OCCUPATION TAKES ME, MY ROOTS ARE HERE IN NEW MEXICO, SO I WILL REMAIN IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: WELL, MY LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR NEW MEXICANS.

YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT, A COACH, AN EDUCATOR, YOU'VE GIVEN SO MUCH TO NEW MEXICO, SO IF YOU COULD REACH A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE NOW, WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE FOR NEW MEXICANS.

>>HOWIE: WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL STATE, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, OUR CULTURE, OUR CUISINE, ALL OF THAT ENTAILS OUR RANCHING, OUR FARMING, ALL OF OUR NATIVE AMERICAN AREAS THAT WE'RE SO PROUD OF.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATE WITH BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, BE PROUD IN WHO WE ARE, BE PROUD OF WHERE WE COME FROM.

OFTENTIMES YOU CAN HEAR OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES, BUT WHEN I TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I HEAR OF ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN MY OWN STATE.

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I JUST TELL THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, WE'RE DOING SOME WONDERFUL THINGS TOGETHER, BE PROUD OF US, BE PROUD OF OUR STATE, BE PROUD OF YOURSELF.

>>LORENE: AND ALSO, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE NEW MEXICANS TO TRAVEL THE STATE.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO CARLSBAD CAVERNS, HAVE YOU BEEN TO TENT ROCKS, THERE ARE SOME REALLY MAGICAL PLACES TO GO TO AND IT'S LIKE A WEEKEND TRIP.

TAKE THE KIDS, LET THEM RUN AROUND AND SHOW THEM THE BEAUTY OF OUR STATE, BECAUSE IT WILL INOCULATE THEM, THEY'LL BE SO PROUD.

>>HOWIE: I LOVE THAT AND CAMPAIGNING ACROSS THE STATE, GOING TO DIFFERENT AREAS THAT YOU MENTIONED, IT JUST BRINGS BACK GOOD MEMORIES.

I'M SO GLAD THAT I DON'T HAVE TO CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR AND DON'T HAVE TO GO TO OTHER PARTS, I CAN JUST GO VISIT COMMUNITIES AND TO REALLY TAKE IN, WITHOUT BEING RUSHED.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATE, BE PROUD OF IT.

>>LORENE: WE DO.

SO DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE INTERCONTINENTAL TRAIL, THE ONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO GO FROM EL PASO UP TO MONTANA.

>>HOWIE: WELL, I KNOW THAT THERE'S THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL THAT GOES RIGHT FROM MY HOMETOWN IN SILVER CITY.

>>LORENE: OH, IT DOES.

>>HOWIE: TO THAT AREA AND AS YOU MENTIONED THAT, I TOOK MY DAUGHTER YESTERDAY, SHE HAD A PHYSICAL THERAPY APPOINTMENT IN LORDSBURG, NEW MEXICO, IT WAS ABOUT 45 MINUTES FROM MY HOME.

THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT I SEE WALKING THE TRAIL RIGHT THERE, IT'S AMAZING.

THAT'S THE PART OF DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY THAT WE WORKED ON BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO WALK THIS TRAIL AND TO PROMOTE WHAT WE HAVE IN NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: YEAH, AND IT'S A LONG THING, THEY MOSTLY HAVE TO BREAK IT UP.

I'M SURE SOME PEOPLE DO THE WHOLE THING.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M SURE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY WELCOMES THEM AND WISHES THEM "VAYA CON DIOS."

IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR US TO SAY "VAYA CON DIOS," SO OUR GUEST TODAY IS LT.

GOVERNOR HOWIE MORALES.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, HE'S A COACH IN EVERYTHING HE DOES, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, EDUCATION AND PROMOTING THE STATE AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS AND YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

YOU CAN COME AND COACH US ANYTIME YOU WANT.

>>HOWIE: I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT HAVE THE TITLE OF LT GOVERNOR, I WOULD WELCOME ANY INVITATION TO BE A GUEST OF YOURS TO GIVE AN UPDATE OF WHAT LIFE HAS TAKEN AS FAR AS THE NEXT JOURNEY FOR ME.

>>LORENE: GOOD, GOOD, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I WANT TO TELL OUR AUDIENCE THAT I'M LORENE MILLS, THIS IS REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM THE HEALY FOUNDATION, TAOS, NM.

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